Lutherans approve plan to ease pastor shortage

Published 5:30 am, Saturday, July 21, 2007

Men needed for special ministries in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod now may qualify for ordination and ministry in less than two years in a program approved this week.

The "specific ministry pastor program" will use distance education, pastor mentoring and on-campus seminary training instead of three years of seminary and a one-year vicarage or internship. Once ordained, a minister could preach and administer Communion in his specific ministry or church. More education would follow.

"The primary concerns delegates had was that it would produce an inferior product," said Samuel H. Nafzger, executive director of the Commission on Theology and Church Relations. "Others felt it would create a two-tiered system, while others thought the present system was doing a good job and should be left alone."

Nafzger believes the decisive moment occurred when delegates at the national convention in Houston began to understand the program would make the church more responsive to special situations.

"As an example, there are quite a few Hmong people in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, and they need someone who understands their language and culture," Nafzger said. "We need well-trained pastors to carry the mission into very special situations." Seventy-six percent of delegates voted in favor of the program, which likely will begin next year.

Delegates also declared a "church fellowship" with the American Association of Lutheran Churches, meaning members can take communion and pastors can preach at each others' churches. Delegates also sought further guidance on serial prayer, participation by Lutheran ministers at civic events where ministers and leaders of other faiths each offer prayers. Some delegates still felt it was "joint worship," which the Missouri Synod does not allow with non-Christians.

In other business, delegates approved the creation of a new director to develop Hispanic ministries. Currently, 96 percent of Missouri Synod Lutherans are white, said the Rev. Gerald Kieschnick, who was elected to a third term as president.